Philippine ferry fire death toll climbs to 76 as identification process begins

The death toll from a Philippine ferry fire jumped to 76 on Saturday (Sep 12) after the coast guard confirmed the discovery of 41 more bodies aboard the burnt-out vessel.



The remains will be transported to a port in Coron, Palawan, coast guard spokeswoman Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said in a statement.



AFP watched hours earlier as disaster agency workers carried coffins to a cemetery in the resort town, intended for the temporary burial of victims of the fire that tore through the M/V June Aster on Wednesday.



The first 30 bodies arrived by sea earlier on Saturday as forensic specialists began the painstaking process of identifying the remains.